The Morning Fix: ‘Brave’ new world. Broken news at NBC.

After the coffee. Before looking for a new trainer.

The Skinny: I’m happy to report that Season 2 of Showtime’s underrated “Episodes” is solid. Friday’s headlines include previews of the weekend box office, troubles at NBC News go beyond “Today” and the Supreme Court passes on a chance to gut the Federal Communications Commission’s ability to police the airwaves.

Daily Dose: Adam Sandler’s “That’s My Boy” may have been a flop at the box office, but television still has faith. The FX cable channel has snagged the rights to the raunchy R-rated comedy. The way cable keeps loosening its standards, by the time “That’s My Boy” is available, FX may not have to do much editing.

Supreme Court punts. Broadcasters were hoping that a legal battle involving Fox, ABC and the Federal Communications Commission would lead to the demise of the regulatory agency’s indecency rules. But given a chance to address whether the rules, and how the FCC enforces them, are unconstitutional, the Supreme Court instead punted. The court’s decision didn’t address the larger issues of content regulation, which means that for now, “Two Broke Girls” is about as dirty as prime-time television will get. Analysis of the high court’s decision from the Los Angeles Times, Wired and Broadcasting & Cable.

Brave new world. Pixar’s “Brave” is expected to dominate the box office this weekend with a take of $65 million. “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” is projected to make about $20 million, although 20th Century Fox thinks its release will make $16 million. That’s what’s known as lowering expectations so that when it does better you act surprised and happy. I’ll say this: No one can go to “Abrahan Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” and not know what they’re going to get. Box-office previews from the Los Angeles Times and Hollywood Reporter.

Breaking news. NBC’s “Today” isn’t the network’s only news program that is having a hard time lately. As the Wall Street Journal and New York Times note, its Sunday franchise “Meet the Press” (which lately seems more like “Entertainment Tonight” than a political chat show) has lost ground to CBS’s “Face the Nation” and its evening newscast, “NBC Nightly News,” is facing tougher competition from ABC’s “World News Tonight.” Doesn’t look like it will be a happy summer for NBC News chief Steve Capus. NBC’s news unit is not being helped by the struggles of its prime time lineup, which has also weakened the network’s local TV stations.

Over their dead bodies. Technology now allows the tacky, including bringing back from the dead (so to speak) performers such as Tupac Shakur, Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. But re-creating these artists through digital technology can also lead to legal fights over rights. Variety reports on the virtual lines that are being crossed.

We’re in the money. Weinstein Co. has landed $225 million in financing that will allow the independent production company to buy more projects. “These facilities are a tremendous contribution to the continued production and acquisition of the kind of award-winning content the Weinstein Co. is known for,” said the company’s chief operating officer, David Glasser. Details from the Wrap.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: Kenneth Turan on “Brave” and “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.” Mary McNamara on HBO’s “The Newsroom.”
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